Evaluation of reuse potential of industrial wastewater treatment plant effluent based on quality and quantity using grey relation analysis

In this study, the effluent reuse potential of 39 industrial wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Taiwan was evaluated using grey relation analysis. A significant, consistent result was revealed. The WWTPs with the lowest reuse potential among 39 industrial parks were in the order: Gueishan, Tucheng, Nankang WWTPs. The WWTPs with highest reuse potential were as follow: Yungan > Tafa > Fongshan. The lowest reuse potential WWTP was Gueishan and the highest one was Hsinchu Technology in northern Taiwan. In central Taiwan, the potential of Nankang WWTP was the lowest, while the potential of Changpin was the highest. The lowest reuse potential WWTP was Jenta (ocean discharge) and the highest one was Yungan in southern Taiwan. In eastern region of Taiwan, the reuse potential of Lungte was higher, that of Guanghwa was lower. The better and larger a WWTP’s effluent quality and quantity were, the higher reuse potential of that WWTP was. But the quantity did not affect the potential significantly.